When emergency strikes, the difference between a life saved and a life lost can be seconds. For help right now, residents in Deltona must travel between six and 33 miles. That means a drive time of up to 37 minutes.

“This is a big community. Most people don’t recognize we have almost 90,000 people and 46 square miles,” said Deltona Mayor John Masiarczyk Sr.

To help, the Halifax Health Emergency Department of Deltona broke ground on the first free-standing ER in Volusia County on Friday morning.

“When the city of Deltona came to us probably 2.5 years ago and said they needed access to health care, not just pediatric or specialty care, they just needed primary care access,” said Jeff Feasel, Halifax Health CEO.

The most recent statistics show there were more than 40,000 emergency room visits from those living in Deltona in from June 2013 to June 2014.

Not only will the hospital provide access, local leaders say they expect to see an economic boom.

“You know how far we just drove, over a mile to get back here. So all of that space is ready, prime land for others that want to put in doctor’s offices, medical and support facilities,” said Masiarczyk.

Those with Halifax say the facility will create up to 60 new positions in the first five years. They expect the healthcare center to be completed in the Spring of 2017.